Bloomberg The European Central Bank may be willing to show greater flexibility in how it supports its economy when bond-buying stops. When policy makers extended quantitative easing to at least Septe- mber, they stipulated that money from maturing debt would be reinvested in the same country for as long as the ECB keeps adding to its holdings. In limiting that …

Bloomberg Airbus SE is looking to develop autonomous aircraft and technologies that will allow a single pilot to operate commercial jetliners, helping cut costs for carriers, Chief Technology Officer Paul Eremenko said. “The more disruptive approach is to say maybe we can reduce the crew needs for our future aircraft,” Eremenko told Bloomberg. “We’re pursuing single-pilot operation as a potential …

Bloomberg Fast Retailing Co., operator of the Uniqlo casual-wear brand, has applied to open stores in India as Asia’s largest clothing chain increases its reliance on overseas markets. The Japanese company submitted an application seeking government approval to do business in India under the Uniqlo brand name, according to a filing on India’s Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion website. …

Bloomberg Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc is joining Airbus SE and Siemens AG in their quest to develop a 100-seater hybrid electric aircraft, giving the UK engine maker a seat at the table of a potential promising aviation technology. Rolls is tasked with helping develop a 2 megawatt electric drive for the aircraft, according to people with knowledge of the matter who …

Bloomberg The rate of fatal crashes on privately owned aircraft in the US dropped to the lowest level in 50 years in 2016. The fatal-accident rate was less than 1 per 100,000 flight hours, the first time it has reached that level in decades, according to statistics released by the US National Transportation Safety Board. There were 386 people killed …

Bloomberg Brick-and-mortar retailers did enough things right on Black Friday to consider the event a success, even if the crowds of past years haven’t returned. Chains simplified promotions this year and took a keener eye to managing their inventory. At Wal-Mart Stores Inc., colour-coded maps helped shoppers navigate the aisles. Retailers also made headway with their e-commerce sites, aiming to …

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Abu Dhabi Ports are to establish a joint Marine Simulator Centre in Musaffah, Abu Dhabi, to provide a range of maritime training for the UAE’s growing marine workforce. Under this long-term partnership, the Marine Simulation Centre will provide training for ADNOC employees and serve the wider marine …

Dubai / Reuters Bank of Sharjah and Invest Bank are in merger talks that could create an institution with about AED50.6 billion ($13.8 billion) of assets, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. In the latest latest sign of consolidation in the United Arab Emirates’ crowded banking industry, the two lenders have held on-and-off discussions over a potential merger since …

GREAT YARMOUTH / WAM Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, on Wednesday, inaugurated its third wind farm in the United Kingdom, bringing the combined power-generating capacity of all three projects to 1 GW enough clean energy to supply nearly 1 million homes. Together with its partners, Statoil and Statkraft of Norway, Masdar staged the official “switch on” of the …

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the leading national entity for development aid, hosted a seminar for the students of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) to discuss the Fund’s development work, operational activities, and achievements spanning 84 beneficiary countries. The panellists shared insights on how ADFD has driven and supported UAE’s mission of socio-economic …